Lead Paint Certification

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring as of April 2010 for contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects to be certified on lead-based paint to work on pre-1978 homes.

Property owners must, before beginning work, provide tenants with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet . Property owners who perform these projects on their own in pre-1975=8 rental housing must be certified as well.

The EPA started processing applications on October 22, 2009.

If you don’t get certified you could get fined up to $37,500 per DAY and you’ll likely get sued

For more information check:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)page. Click Here
- The article posted on January 14, 2010 by Fine Home Building.com


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You may submit your comments or questions directly to:

Handyman Matters San Diego
2820 Via Orange Way, Suite A
Spring Valley, CA 91978
(619) 660-0485
Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

Tax Breaks for Going Green!

Whether you're planning on buying a refrigerator, remodeling your home, upgrading your heat, there's a tax break for going green in 2010--and often beyond. You can save $50 on a fridge, $1,500 on new windows, or thousands on a solar power system.

Home Remodel
You can get $1,500 off your tax bill--a 30% credit for the first $5,000 you spend in 2009 or 2010 for improvements to your house's energy efficiency, including new windows, doors, furnaces, air conditioners and insulation. For the energy-efficiency standards you must meet, see the consumer guide at Alliance to Save Energy. You can get the full $1,500 even if you claimed the old, now expired $500 home energy credit.

Refrigerators
States are rolling out $300 million worth of rebates for homeowners who replace their clunker appliances with new energy-efficient models. Your take will be small--$50 for a fridge, $500 for central air. The rebates are typically offered in addition to existing rebates from manufacturers and utilities. The Department of Energy has a list of Approved Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs, click here.

Solar Hot Water
Solar hot water systems to heat your shower or radiators (but not your hot tub or pool) qualify for a 30% federal credit, with no dollar cap. With solar hot water systems costing $6,000 to $10,000, this investment can have a fairly quick payback, especially if you're replacing an electric hot water heater. The credit is available through 2016 and can be claimed against the AMT.


Handyman Matters San Diego
(619) 660-0485
Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

Grab Bars - Why install them?

Nearly 200,000 people are injured annually in their bathroom, according to statistics from the National Safety Council. Slips and falls in the bathroom are a major cause of injuries to people of all ages. Falls are the greatest source of injury and accidental death around the home, so it's no wonder more and more people are installing grab bars to make their bathrooms safer.

Properly mounted grab bars (installed directly into studs or wooden backing behind a wall) can prevent falls and are an inexpensive way to help ensure no one in your family gets injured in a preventable home accident. Grab bars are specially manufactured to hold at least 250 lbs. when properly secured. Grab bars provide extra security in the bathtub for that first slippery step.

Find a professional installer capable to do an installation on your drywall, fiberglass, ceramic tile and marble and also to complete this project up to code.

Code Reference:

• Grab bars should be installed at the tub, shower, and toilet. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association grab bars installed horizontally or on a 45-degree angle provide the best support for a person trying to get out of a bathtub or shower. For more information and details check the National Kitchen and Bath Association

This article was brought to you by:
Handyman Matters San Diego
(619) 660-0485
Email:SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

How to Shut off your Gas in case of an emergency!

It is important to know exactly where your gas meter is located so that in the event of an emergency, you know how to shut it off. The location of the valve can vary depending on the type of building and when it was installed. In an emergency, your gas can be turned off at the main gas service shutoff valve normally located near your gas meter. Using a 12 to 15 inch adjustable pipe or crescent-type wrench or other suitable tool, give the valve a quarter turn in either direction; the valve is closed when the tang (the part you put the wrench on) is crosswise to the pipe.

* Know where your main gas service shutoff valve is located
* Keep an adjustable pipe or crescent-type wrench available to turn off the gas in case of an emergency
* Know how to shut off the gas at the gas service shutoff valve
* Leave it off until service can be restored safely by SDG&E or another qualified professional

For More information visit SDG&E Website.